Importance of Symbols & Religions.

I've watched a film about Jung's Psychology and Symbols.

Here's summary:

In Jungian Psychology, as opposed to Freud's one ... topics of Mythology and Religions have important place. Ignoring these is a big mistake, when one tries to understand modern civilized man's Mind, or at least I think so.

Human Mind is like a riverbed. It has no water in itself, but when water flows in, it is given specific form, shape and direction.

Similarly, Human Mind is like riverbed... when object of perception flows in, is seen by senses and flows into Mind, emotions and thought processes are activated.

This Mind's Riverbed was shaped by evolution, like physical body... and is called: 'collective unconscious'.

We've inherited from our ancestors certain tendencies, tendencies to interpret and to react to certain symbols in a certain way.

In this film some of the biblical symbols were explained:
- Snake (danger, enemy, poisonous) and Tree (roots in ground, trunk that gives stability and tree's crown that reaches heavens) in Garden of Eden,
- Mount Sinai (climbing mountain means detachments from daily chores, means reaching for spirituality), and the 10 Commandments of Moses (tablets of stone that bring the laws and stability to society),
- Great Flood and Noah's Ark (great water is like chaos, cataclysm).

Bible uses these symbols to tell something about a man, what he/she was before and how he/she is now.

When we observe a symbol via our senses, before we understand it, we react according to Bible's transmission.

I think that we would revert to primitive and brutal tribal mentality, if not religions.

Despite all of their faults, religions help humans to be civilized, to communicate with each other, to go beyond the tribe mentality.

Are symbols important at all?
- When we walk the street, when we see red light, we obediently stop and let cars pass until light turns green.
- When we look at smartphone, we recognize symbol of green headphone, despite that new phones are not like modern ones anymore.
- When we enter a coffee bar, we see a simple symbol of the cup and steam, and we know that we are in 'right place'.

There are research efforts that prove that without symbols, humanity and civilization would revert into chaos, like it was in the past.

As for archetypes:

Jungian archetypes are universal, inherited patterns of thought, imagery, and behavior residing in the collective unconscious, forming the basis of human experience across cultures. Originally conceptualized by Carl Jung to represent innate, symbolic psyche elements, these archetypes include core figures like the Self, Shadow, Anima/Animus, and Persona. Perhaps I am wrong, but I think that archetypes are tendencies that give symbols certain forms, like riverbed gives form, shape and direction to the water.

Arrogant Buddhist's Honest Words about Religions, about the Noble & Powerful Way of Service, and about the need for Peace.

The Quote.

'ALL WORLD RELIGIONS SEEK TO ADVANCE WORLD PEACE

The principles I have mentioned are in accordance with the ethical teachings of all world religions.

I maintain that Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism all hold up love as an ideal, seek to benefit humanity through spiritual practice, and strive to make their followers better people.

All religions teach moral precepts for the advancement of mind, body, speech, and action: do not lie or steal or take others' lives, and so on.

Unselfishness is the common foundation laid down by all great spiritual teachers.

(...)

Of course, there's is no end of argument when religion differences arise from dogma and cultural diversity.

However, it is much better to implement in daily life the goodness taught by all religions than to argue about minor differences in approach.

(...)

All the different religions of the world are needed to enrich human experience and world civilization.

Our human minds, with all their variety, need different approaches to peace and happiness.

It is just like varieties of food.

Certain people find Christianity more appealing, others prefer Buddhism because it does not advocate a creator - everything depends upon your own actions.

We could make similar cases for other religions as well.

The point is clear: humanity needs all the world's religions to suit varied ways of life, diverse spiritual needs, and inherited national traditions.

(...)'

--. Quoted parts of 'How to See Yourself As You Really Are' book by HH The Dalai Lama.





Blog author's honest comment.

Since youth i didn't accept 'the creator god' idea, i felt too arrogant & independent to serve such totality.

To a large degree, i didn't behave as my parents wished. Respecting parents, elders & traditions has the lot to do with faiths & religions, not only because of one of ten commandments.

i chose Buddhism so i could be someone better, to challenge the gods - especially the 'only true god' idea.

Now i am Wiser and more Tolerant, but still quite Ungodly.

i serve many gods, including YHVH, mostly because:
* i feel that Buddhism requires me to do this for Peace,
* by common sense & spiritual challenge rules - that by serving one gains advantage, that way i can challenge & understand the gods.
* to criticize, to attempt to change gods for better - for benefit of everyone, including gods.


Serving others with such purpose is not so bad as it seems - if they repay by serving us, i can also serve - and friendship increases mutual ways.

But when one side abuses, those who have advantage can use it to make offender suffer for that transgression.

Life of a service is the Noble, and Powerful Way, i think.

Religions of Faith have Great Respect for traditions, as well as feel need for protection of greater beings. They are not without virtues.

i think buddhism attract many of ungodly, arrogant, yet spirited and independent individuals, often quite idealistic free thinkers, as well. Bud there are a lot of selfish jerks as well, i feel.

i agree with HH Buddha Dalai Lama's words that all religions are needed.

i think that if Allah died, many people would still feel need for similar 'replacement' and would create another similar God, perhaps younger, more angry, perhaps more violent. i think revenges & wars would start en-masse, and catastrophes would follow. i think there would be high chance that humanity would not survive this.

i advise everyone - also buddhists - to respect other religions, both of experience and faith, both inner and external, both minor and major.

Let's seek what brings us together, instead of what we disagree about, instead of what separates us.

Regarding Religions.

Blog author's comments.

i think that even if modern Buddhism is not a Religion, it still has ancient methods of dealing with inner & outer Religions.

There are Religious lessons in it still, i think.

Different lessons are for different beings, are for different times, as well.

A good heart is an important aspect of Compassion.

Wisdom & Compassion lead to Enlightenment on the Great Way (Mahayana Buddhism) as well.


Four Immeasurables.

i wish all beings to not suffer, to not be under influence of the causes of suffering as well,
i wish all beings to be happy, to have causes of happiness as well,
May they always experience true happiness, which is totally free from suffering,
May they remain in the great equanimity, which is beyond attachment and aversion.


Mantras.

OM MANI PEME HUNG
OM MANI PADME HUM
KARMAPA CHENNO

Namaste, blessed be.

Antisectarian Buddhism, Religions & Atheism.

Introduction.

it's written in Lama Ole Nydahl books that Buddhism can be seen as partly Religion, partly Psychology, partly Philosophy.

it's Buddha Karmapa's words that Buddhism is not a Religion, it's a Science.

i think that different Buddha Dharma Lessons are for different beings, perhaps for different times as well.

i think that in my case, after Religion stage as a Way - there's Science related with the Law of Cause & Effect.


Atheism & Sects.

i think that Atheists are often people who suffer most, lacking support of Religious Communities who help each other mostly, approaching Atheists with too much of caution, treating them worse.

it's my experience that Atheists - i was Atheist during a significial part of my life - become upset with the Religions, see mostly bad sides - this discourages Religious Communities from helping them enough, leaving them feeling alone in a crowd, without support or respect that many need.

it's an experience as of being in a Sect that Separates one from Happiness, in whatever form it might come. i think that many so-called Religious People are Sectarian that way without understanding that they are acting as a Sect that contains someone's Potential, that makes someone helpless & inferior under their ranks.


How to help Atheists?

while i am not sure, i have a few of thoughts coming from my experiences:
- honesty & even harsh truths do help - it's nice to explain Atheists gently that alone they will suffer more, that Religion comes from a word Religare, Latin word for 'Reunion',
- it's worth to tell Atheists that Wise & Compassionate Communities might be great places to seek, that it's worth to be Altruist early - before one starts to feel too old & lonely to seek meaningful Love or company, or even the Meaning of Life,
- it's worth to practice Compassion (Loving Eyes Practice in my case), to see Atheists as living beings full of Potential, instead of someone worse just because they do not go to Church or do not Meditate,
- it's worth to Speak & Act beyond Political Correctness & Hypocrisy - i advise to use even Strong & Painful methods for Advancement - to save the Time & Lives instead of wasting what we have the most precious - our time & our youth,
- it's worth to encourage Altruistic Independence in others, instead of discouraging Atheists from achieving Greatness, instead of telling them that they are too weak or too ill to work, etc.,
- certain people cannot Meditate or go to Church because of many reasons - mental illness is one of these reasons - but people can care, listen to the Wise Teachers, help & practice as they can - at least i am trying to do it that way; when a person does his or her best - do not expect more, do not treat them as inferior, please.